3rd XI v Kew 4th XI

Kaleem's Six-For and Widanapathirana's Century Seal Emphatic Sonning Win at Barn Elms

Sonning's 3rd XI produced their most complete performance of the young season at Barn Elms, dismissing Kew for 104 and then filling their boots with the bat, an unbeaten hundred from Shamitha Widanapathirana and a fluent 67 from Mehar Ali Kaleem carrying the visitors to 242 for 5 from their 40 overs in a five-wicket Division 9A victory.

Kew won the toss and chose to bat, a decision that looked reasonable enough until Sonning's bowlers found their rhythm. Michael Longridge set the tone with an opening spell that conceded just 12 runs from five overs, and although Kishor Dattani offered some resistance at the top with 14, wickets began to fall at regular intervals once the change bowlers came on.

Mehar Ali Kaleem was the chief destroyer. Bowling with control and finding enough movement to keep the stumps in play throughout, he finished with 6 for 25 from 9.1 overs, including a pair of maidens, and took the final wicket to close the innings. Five of the ten Kew batters were bowled, a reflection of how consistently full and straight Sonning's attack bowled on a surface that gave them just enough encouragement.

At the other end Shahid Imtiaz was every bit as miserly, sending down all ten of his overs for 19 runs and three wickets, with three maidens among them. Alexander Fleming chipped in with a wicket of his own as Kew were bowled out for 104 in 31.1 overs. Nick Reed top-scored with 16 and Edward Kirby's 15 lower down at least gave the home innings some late substance, the pair adding useful runs when the innings had looked like folding sooner.

Chasing 105, Sonning lost David McLoughlin for 6 and were briefly checked when Fleming, Longridge and captain Mark Lilley all departed in the middle order without settling. Wazir Khan had earlier retired not out at the top. What followed, though, was the innings of the day.

Widanapathirana anchored everything, reaching three figures and finishing unbeaten on 104, an innings of patience early and considerable authority once the target had been secured. He found the ideal ally in Kaleem, who followed his six-wicket haul by taking the attack to the Kew bowlers in a rapid 67 before being stumped. Their stand not only settled the chase but transformed it, Sonning scoring at better than six an over across the innings as the visitors pushed on well beyond what was required.

Sonning closed on 242 for 5, five wickets in hand and the win comfortably sealed. David Sheppard was the pick of the Kew attack with 1 for 34 from his full ten overs, and Aqif Ali took two wickets, but on a warm afternoon in Barnes there was no answer to Kaleem's all-round contribution or to Widanapathirana's century.